Spring 2025 Continuing to deliver for cadets and reserves

Foreword

Chair David Rhodes reflects on RFCA for Yorkshire and the Humber's activity in his final foreword as Association Chair

Welcome to our 2025 annual report.

Our regional cadets have had another successful year. Overall cadet numbers continue to increase, though at a slower rate than in recent years, and we have seen a slight decline in adult volunteers. The annual Summer Camps remain a cornerstone of the cadet year. This year, we supported over 500 Combined Cadet Force cadets from Yorkshire and the Humber at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in June and July, as well as Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force HQ during their annual Visitors’ Day. We also supported the inaugural Cadet Forces Business and Enterprise Study Weekend in July and our well-established annual Careers Fair in February.

Our reserves across the county are central to defence plans and enjoying rich opportunities. However, they are are facing challenges, with recruitment and retention as key priorities due to ongoing declines in numbers. We have continued to support retention-focused activities through special grants for adventurous training, battlefield tours, and social events, and we have increased our grant budget for these purposes this year. Additionally, we are making an extra effort to support recruitment with a special grant available to units to assist with local recruitment and to support potential recruits navigating an increasingly slow pipeline. I hope this additional support will help slow, if not reverse, the decline. I had expected to report positive developments for reserves from the Strategic Defence Review; however, we will now have to wait until at least June for clarity on future plans for reserves.

Turning to estate management, this has been a year of significant change. In August, our estates team transitioned from a delivery team hiring and supervising contractors to an assurance team overseeing a single prime contractor under the new DIO FDIS suite of contracts. The transition was seamless, and I would like to commend the team for their hard work in ensuring its success. Several months into the new arrangement, the prime contractor is struggling to meet resource requirements, and it has become evident that the DIO underestimated costs, resulting in a substantially higher expense for a reduced service. This year, we had to divert £350,000 of regionally generated income to core works typically funded by the DIO, though we recovered some of this by year-end. This issue will persist into the new funding year, and while the MOD works to resolve it, we remain focused on delivering the best possible service to our Reserves and Cadets.

Our community engagement continues to play a small but vital role in strengthening the armed forces’ connection with society. We awarded nineteen silver and eleven gold certificates to Yorkshire employers—a county record—and hosted our inaugural Armed Forces Covenant networking event at Leeds Armoury in July. Our military business expos and annual Lord-Lieutenant’s award ceremonies also continue to thrive across the county.

Financially, we have had a strong year and maintained a balanced budget. We received £7.2 million in MOD funds, all of which we utilised effectively, particularly for our estate. Our regional income remains stable at £1.2 million, and although we used some of this for reactive maintenance, we subsequently recovered these costs from the Army. We enter the new year with a reduced but manageable operating budget and sufficient regional funds for planned projects. However, we must remain vigilant, as future MOD funding will likely require strong advocacy to sustain our work.

I am delighted to welcome several new members to the association this year. It is vital that we continue to attract new talent to our ranks. I also extend my gratitude to all existing members for their continued support and counsel to the board and our committees. Together, we play a small but influential role in positively shaping the region’s and nation’s Reserves and Cadets.

On a personal note, this is my final annual report after five immensely rewarding years as your chairman and nearly fifteen years with the association since retiring from reservist duty. I thank you all—staff and members—for your confidence, support, and wisdom over the years and wish you and the association a continued and successful future.

Enriching the cadet experience

Supporting cadets and volunteers

RFCA YH is committed to delivering tri-service cadet programmes throughout Yorkshire and the Humber, extending support to the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and the schools-based Combined Cadet Force. The cadet forces provide an opportunity for individuals to gain invaluable qualifications, enhance their confidence and prepare themselves for a bright and successful future with endless possibilities. From summer camps to skills-building activities, cadets enjoy fun adventures whilst making lasting friendships.

Providing programmes that teach and develop young people

Adventurous Training and Exploration Activity offers the chance for young people to step out of their comfort zone, experience new environments, new challenges and build upon their confidence and abilities. We supported several opportunities this year that enabled cadets access to these experiences including Ex Winter Warmer 25 Aviemore Scotland for a skiing expedition. Cadets of all ski abilities enjoyed an action-packed week of snow sports (£2,000). In this financial year, we committed support for first quarter FY 2025/26 events including (£4,000) towards 40 cadets and ten adult volunteers to visit a WWI Battlefield Tour in April 2025, 600 cadets for CCF Central Camp in Otterburn (£1,000), 100 cadets participating in a Climbing Competition and 160 cadets attending a Battlefield Tour in Belgium.

Annual Summer Camp is a cornerstone event for all cadets in Yorkshire and the Humber.  In this past financial year, we supported 500+ Combined Cadet Force cadets from Yorkshire and the Humber at Queen Elizabeth Barracks in June and July (£1,250) where they enjoyed activities such as fieldcraft and shooting. We also supported Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force HQ with their annual Visitors Day (£600) where attendees from regional employers were able to see first-hand activities and learn about the cadet experience and learnt skills that prepare young people for employability.

The inaugural Cadet Forces Business and Enterprise Study Weekend in July, led by Honorary Colonel Simon Banks-Cooper, was a resounding success. The two-day event, held at York St John University, was led by the university’s Business School and local business leaders. Our cadets participated in development and pitching exercises, putting their learning and knowledge to the test at the final ‘Dragon’s Den’ style session, showcasing their self-discipline, creativity, teamwork and communication skills. The event is scheduled to run again 5-6 July 2025.

The 3rd Annual Cadet Careers Fair was held in February at Silver ERS employer, York College.  Fifty-five employers, all on the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, exhibited. The new venue was accessible to all and provided an excellent environment for networking between cadets and employers to explore employability opportunities and potential recruits. Both employers and cadets are looking forward to Cadet Careers Fair 2026, where we expect an increase in exhibiting employers and attending cadets.

Simon Banks-Cooper, Honorary Colonel of Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF and founder of a regional Cadet Careers Fair, says: “Employers and entrepreneurs recognise that it’s not just academic qualifications that are key to employability. Wider experiences, generic skills, and emotional intelligence contribute to making a young person work-ready.”

We host the Department for Education and Ministry of Defence’s Cadet Expansion Scheme which helps schools across the region set up and develop cadet units. Yorkshire and the Humber is currently home to 26 Combined Cadet Forces (CCF).  One contingent launched in 2024 – Sir John Nelthorpe CCF in Brigg. Approval had also been given for a CCF (Army) section at Moor End Academy in Huddersfield, which is due to begin parading after the Easter holidays. Additionally, at the end of the year, The St Lawrence Academy in Scunthorpe will open a Royal Navy section to complement their Army section. Overall, CCF cadet numbers have been steady in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Finally, we have supported schools with funding applications for infrastructure, resources, equipment and experiences to help improve recruitment and retention within their contingents. Across the region, approximately £160,000 has been awarded to contingents from the Combined Cadet Force Association’s Growth Fund grant scheme.

Raising the profile of the Cadet Force

The Cadet Review, a magazine that features news stories, events, achievements and successes of our cadets and adult volunteer leaders from across Yorkshire and the Humber, celebrates its 20th year in circulation. Published tri-annually and with 9,000 copies in circulation per year, an online version is also available, making it more accessible to our cadet community and beyond. A special edition celebrating this milestone will be issued this Autumn.

Colonel David Fuller, Editor of The Cadet Review, says:

“I am delighted to celebrate 20 years of The Cadet Review. What began as an unknown journey has evolved into a remarkable endeavour, involving all three services across Yorkshire and the Humber. Thanks to the dedication of a fantastic team, we have consistently produced issue after issue, each filled with inspiring stories and remarkable achievements. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey thus far, and I am excited about the many more years of success that The Cadet Review has in store.”

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Award events organised and run by RFCA in each county welcomed the respective HM Lord-Lieutenant, civic leaders and senior military officers. In addition to the Reservists and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) recognised for their exceptional contribution to the forces, fourteen cadets were made a Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet this year for their superlative work and commitment. To celebrate the voice of the cadet experience and to inform and inspire audiences of this achievement, we produced video reels that featured the cadets sharing their cadet experience. Overall, the cadet video reels have received 17,663 views on our channels, more than double than the previous year when we first ran the the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet reels.

Cadet Force Adult Volunteers network makes the running of our youth programmes possible. The volunteers manage the delivery of the activities, administration and learning, ensuring young people are given a memorable and meaningful cadet experience. They take time from their personal lives to attend parade night at least twice a week, attend basic training, teach the cadet syllabus and oversee the safety (and fun!) of the cadets.  They are an essential pillar of the cadet programme, instilling the foundational skills and knowledge for cadets’ successful progression to employability, higher education, military service and more. Adult Volunteer numbers remain steady, however, RFCA lend to continuous recruitment efforts overall in Yorkshire and the Humber, especially in selected areas where CFAVs recruitment requires extra support.

The RFCA YH CFAV spring 2024 campaign ran alongside National Volunteers’ Week which featured volunteer testimonies about the positive impact they have on the cadet community and the benefits of volunteering for the cadet programme. In addition, we ran bespoke content to promote the role of the CFAV and a call to action to join as a volunteer. The campaign received favourable engagement and excellent reach, with over 6,200 views across our channels – slightly up from last year – and further boosted with successful content that ran in September, which garnered 9,500 views and 150 engagements. We look forward to running this campaign again in June 2025, which will showcase new profiles of adult volunteers in Yorkshire and the Humber from across all service programmes.

The Eyes On Hands On Project is a scheme where cadets and cadet force adult volunteers record, research, preserve and maintain graves of our fallen soldiers. Their work, led by Captain Brooks of Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force, spearheaded policy change by Commonwealth War Graves Commission to officially include working with youth groups in the future. Well done to all for participation in this ongoing project and for their contribution to the veteran and wider community.

Captain Brooks said: “It’s important we keep their names alive, because if we lose our veterans and no longer have stories from World War One and World War Two, it just becomes another page in a book.”

The final nine minibuses/vans of our new fleet of 12 vehicles for our Cadet Force have been fulfilled after a two year roll-out. We are pleased that all our Army Cadet companies and Cadet Administration now have reliable transport that will facilitate travel for maintenance, events, exercises and activities.

Community cadets in Yorkshire and the Humber by year

Adult volunteers in Yorkshire and the Humber by year

2024/25 Cadet Forces Highlight Reel

Strengthen the region's Reserve Forces

Championing the Reserve Forces in Yorkshire and the Humber

RFCA YH champions the value of the Reserve Forces and opportunities that offer reservists to further develop their military training and skills. The Reserve Forces also play a key role in linking us with regional employers, helping us forge relationships with organisations that will support the forces community. The RFCA is committed to supporting efforts that will further reservist recruitment and retention.

Military training is a key component for Reservists. This year, we supported Training of Officers’ Cadets military deployment in the Netherlands where focused on training for field, drills, weapons and urban warfare exercises.

• 153 Officer Cadets and 52 staff participating in EX VELUWE VENTURE annual deployment in Netherlands in June and July 2024 (£3,075)

Reservists 19th Light Brigade were on location in Sennelager, Germany in June for one of the largest tri-national training exercises, Exercise Rhino Heart. The British Army Reserves trained alongside the US National Guard and German Bundeswehr. Read the full article.

Reservists’ adventurous training is a key component of individual training progression that provides invaluable understanding of fundamental military skills such as planning, organisation, leadership, personnel management and administration. Expeditions can take place anywhere in the world and are designed to prepare service personnel for ‘real risk’ operations. These expeditions offer a range of physical and mental challenges and enhance readiness for adverse elements, situations and environments.  

“Over the course of a week, Officer Cadets went alpine skiing, working towards their Ski Foundation Level 1 and 2 qualifications. From mastering the basics to tackling more advanced slopes, expedition was designed to develop leadership, resilience, and teamwork in a demanding but rewarding environment “, – YOTR Exercise Northern Piste 2025 in Les Arcs, France

RFCA YH supported several training opportunities this past year.  Top highlights include:  

• 80 Reservists on EX WAGON CHALLENGE in Yorkshire in May 2024 (£2,200)
• 30 Officer Cadets on EX FORGED FOUNDATIONS in the Lake District in April 2024 (£519.28)
• 21 Reservists on adventurous training in the Lake District in August 2024 (£1,050)
• 18 Reservists participating in a three-day multi-activity Adventurous Training in the Lake District in August 2024 (£900)
• 42 personnel attending EX SNOW PANTHER in Austria in February/March 2025 (£2,940)
• 10 Reservists to attend EX NORTHERN MAGPIE in France in January 2025 (£1,000)
• 36 Officer Cadets Supported EX NORTHERN WANDERER in Snowdonia National park in July and August 2024 (£431.38)
• Five Reservists in EX NORTHERN FROSTED SWORD skiing in France in January 2025 (£500)
• 38 Officer Cadets and seven members of staff attending EX NORTHERN PISTE SKIING in France in January 2025 (£4,500)
• One Reservist to attend EX SUPREME GLACIER 24, a REME winter sports development cap in Austria in November and December (£100)
• 30 Reservists attend a clay pigeon shooting unit cohesion event in December 2024 (£250)
• One Reservist to participate in EX FROSTED BLADE in France in December 2024 (£100)
• Four Reservists from 64 Squadron to participate in EX DRAGON SORBET 25in the Tyrolean Alps.
• Four Yorkshire and the Humber Reservists from QOY C Sqn, Fox Barracks Funds to particpate in NORTHERN WINTER RUSH 12-22 March in Germany Obertsdorf. (£400)

RFCA YH provided funds to support recruitment for the Yorkshire Officers Training Regiment, supporting their annual Freshers’ Fairs stands and recruiting activity for Junior Division. Funds were also spent on supporting an open evening in Northallerton, aimed at helping to establish a Reserves Platoon there (£755).

Providing support to units, the RFCA funded over £16,000 in special grants to reserve units for kit and signage improvements and engagement events.

Funds supported several projects including the following highlights:

• Deployment exercise dinner for 290 Officer Cadets
• Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment Regimental Dinner for senior officers and officer cadets from Leeds and Sheffield
• New training gear for reservists for newly formed regiment 214 Multi-Role Medical Regiment
• Volunteer Reserve Service Medal presentation and event
• New and refreshed signage for 150 Regiment RLC

The debut of the new Reserve Forces videos in September featured regional reservists along with their civilian workplace employers. The videos’ messaging emphasises the benefits of employing reservists and employers’ wider support for the Armed Forces Community. The case studies showcase impactful testimony and interviews featuring reservists and their employers along with footage of the reservist working in their military environment. Watch the ‘Life in the Reserves’ video.

Freedom of the City Kingston-Upon-Hull Reservists from 4th Battalion The Royal Yorkshire Regiment (4 R YORKS), 150 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, and the Defence School of Transport joined cadets from Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force and 152 (City of Hull) Squadron RAF Air Cadets on Sunday 14th April 2024 to exercise their bestowed honour in the Freedom of the City parade for Kingston-Upon-Hull , the highest civic honour that can be awarded to an individual or organisation. The honour is awarded by councillors on behalf of the city in recognition of immense pride or of expressing gratitude for exemplary service.

Connecting Defence with community, RFCA supported the ‘Festival of Remembrance’ in November. The RFCA was pleased to support 19th Light Brigade’s Festival of Remembrance 2024 at Huddersfield Town Hall on the 8th of November. The Massed Military Bands, Pipes and Bugles of 19th Light Brigade performed for over 300 attendees with excellent representation from Yorkshire’s military, civic parties, supportive employers and local communities. It was an evening of music and outreach, an unforgettable performance honouring veterans and all who serve in the Armed Forces. Thanks to 4th Battalion, The Royal Yorkshire Regiment and Kirklees Council for the event’s outstanding planning, organisation and hospitality and  to all who kindly supported the evening’s collection for the Royal British Legion.

Reserve Forces in Yorkshire and the Humber by year

*numbers unchanged, awaiting updated JPA report

2024/25 Reserve Forces Highlight Reel:

Our Volunteer Estate

Ensuring best places to train and work

During this year the Estates Team have transitioned from a Facilities Management (FM) delivery team to an FM Contract Management, Performance management, Compliance and Assurance team. The Estates Team and the permanent volunteer estate staff also serve as the custodians of our buildings where our cadets and reservists meet, work and train.  Our Surveyors, Estate Managers, Assistant Estate Managers and Administrators oversee a total of over 900 buildings, spread over 140+ sites – including 30 Army reserve centres, three Cadet Training Centres, two city-centre Army Recruitment Offices and over 110 cadet buildings. From complex upgrades and refurbishments, to routine reactive maintenance and statutory and mandatory inspections and tests, the team ensures the progress and completion of projects from start to finish to ensure that our estate is safe, compliant and fit for purpose. 

Routine Maintenance and Planned Maintenance spending included £1.18m on ensuring reserve centres and cadet centres are being kept open, functional and safe to work and train for our end users. £350k of our own regionally generated income to subsidise the lack of funding from defence to ensure that every single one of our buildings remained open and not just safe and compliant.

Cadet and Reserves Centre Upgrades

Regional Estate Optimisation Programme (REOP) focus on improving and transforming space for local cadet and reservists and their operations by rationalising the sites and assets across the Yorkshire and Humber estate.

The former police station at Immingham is nearing completion with around £450k spent on the purchase of the building and a further £200k spent on transforming the building into a joint cadet centre for the local Sea, Army and Air cadet units. This centre marks the second tri-service joint cadet joint in the whole of the UK. Thank you to Humberside Police Force who worked with the RFCA and REOP Team on providing the historical context of the site and collaborating on presenting the transformation of the building.

At Skipton’s 264 Squadron facilities, £700,000 was invested to build an extension at the rear of the building forming two new classrooms, office and store. The property has become a joint cadet centre serving both the Air Training Corps and Army Cadet Force. We are also pleased with the completion of Mona House, another site that benefited from REOP Funds to rationalise two separate Army Cadet and Air Cadet sites into one joint Cadet Centre.

RGI-funded betterment projects

RGI Funded ACF decorating programme (£50k) delivered internal decorating at the ACFs over the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region, including Army Cadet centres at Otley, Odsal, Fitzwilliam, Birdwell, Hornsea, Middleton and Joint Cadet centres at Scunthorpe and Bridlington.

RGI Funded Gutter Clearance & Minor Repairs (£50k) We have recently set aside £50k for gutter clearance and minor repairs to cover all sites in desperate need of this works in order to prevent water ingress and internal damage to internal decorations. £15,000 has been spent already at the sites listed below:

ARC’s – Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Rotherham

CTC’s – Driffield and Strensall

JCC’s – Northallerton, Hornsea and Wolfe Armoury

ACF – Normanton & Fitzwilliam 

The remaining £35k will be rolled over into 25/26 to continue on with the programme which is currently running until the end of June.

Cadet Training Centres at Driffield & Strensall Extensive and essential fire door upgrades and compartmentation works were carried out to both our cadet training facilities to the total value of around £500k. All sleeping accommodation and communal areas have fully compliant doors and casings to ensure fire safety and compartmentation is fully safe and compliant for all cadets and staff – £500,000.

Endcliffe Hall ARC, Sheffield – Flat Roof Replacement
The flat roof over the coach house was in terrible condition, the roof covering was decayed causing significant damage to the undercroft, as a result the whole roof had to be stripped off and a new flat roof and undercroft was installed. The contractors that we used were Raceway Builders Ltd – £15,000.

Danum Road ARC, Doncaster – Valley Gutter Replacement
The original Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) gutter at the abutment had failed and was extremely worn and damaged. This caused significant water damage internally due to the rainwater penetrating the building. We removed rows of slate at the bottom of the roof, removed the grp lined channel and replaced it with a new GRP gutter – £20,000.
 
Somme Barracks ARC, Sheffield – External Repairs
Somme Barracks had significant external repairs carried out. The works included external walls and gable being pointed, minor wall repairs, new guttering and downpipes installed. Internally the damage caused due to the rainwater ingress meant stripping plaster walls and ceilings in the office and the locker room, installing new plaster ceilings, decorating, new electrical works and new lighting – £37,000.

Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall – dining and bar area refurbishment – The old and leaking conservatory roof was removed and replaced with a more traditional GRP flat roof. Additionally to the roof, internal improvements were made including new carpets, blinds, lighting and decorating to the refresh the area and improve the cadet experience – £43,000.

Other RGI Funded Projects

Structural repairs to the range – Huddersfield ARC – £22,000

Asbestos roof replacement to the Gym – Middleton Barracks, Hull – £23,000

Privacy glass and blinds to offices – Churchill Barracks, Leeds – £15,000

Flat roof replacement over the offices – Huddersfield ARC – £20,000

Flat roof replacement over the stores and Armoury – Huddersfield ARC – £30,000

Internal refurbishment project – MAB3 Building, Carlton Barracks, Leeds – £400,000

Reactive Maintenance top up – £300,000 towards reactive maintenance works

Land and Infrastructure Improvement Fund (LIIF) We have spent £55k on nine infrastructure projects, with nine separate Army Reserve centres benefitting from projects requested by the units at Somme Barracks – Sheffield, Manor Top ARC – Sheffield, Churchill Barracks – Leeds, Pontefract ARC, Barnsley ARC, Rotherham ARC, Londesborough Barracks – Hull, Worsley Barracks – York and Scarborough Barracks – Doncaster.

2024/25 Estates Highlight Reel:

Working with Employers

Linking Defence with Businesses

The Employer Engagement Team works with Ministry of Defence’s Defence Relationship Management team to establish open and strategic relationships with employers.  The team serves as a vital link that brings military and business communities together. They work with employers, promoting the importance of reservists and adult volunteers in the workplace and the skills and abilities they can bring to their organisation. For employers looking to commit their support to the UK Armed Forces, our Employer Engagement Team is responsible for fostering their next steps whether it is signing the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) or joining the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

The Armed Forces Covenant Networking event in July brought together over 50 employers to the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Attendees representing a span of industries and sectors discussed good practice that promote forces-friendly policies for the workplace. A panel of individuals from Defence, the Engagement Advisory Committee and Engagement Team fielded a range of questions and welcomed further initiatives to broaden ongoing communications with ERS employers in Yorkshire and the Humber. A follow-up forum was formed: the Gold ERS Business Forum, which met in September. It is now awaiting a centralised communication app, set to launch Spring 2025, which will enable shared events, practices and discussion among ERS employers.

The 2025 Gold and Silver ERS Yorkshire and the Humber saw nineteen employers achieve Silver ERS and eleven employers reach Gold ERS status, marking a record number of recipients for Yorkshire and the Humber in a single year.

Our Silver ERS employers were celebrated at a formal event at York Racecourse in September, where three regional Lord-Lieutenants and a Deputy Lord-Lieutenant presented the awards to employers from their respective counties. 

In November 2024, we celebrated a total of twenty-three employers at the Gold ERS ceremony, a shared event with North of England RFCA. RFCA YH was thrilled that 2024 marked a record number of employers receiving Gold ERS in a single year. Similar to 2023, the 2024 Gold ERS employers were VIP guests for York’s Royal Gun Salute to mark the birthday of His Majesty, The King, which took place in Museum Gardens. The award presentation event followed at York Hospitium, conveniently located in the Gardens.

Silver Award winners

The following Yorkshire and the Humber businesses achieved Silver ERS this year:

East Riding of Yorkshire

• HETA (Humberside Engineering Training Association)
• Hull 4 Heroes
• NHS Humber & North Yorkshire Integrated Care

North Yorkshire

• Carers Plus Yorkshire
• Citizens Advice York
• Eden Camp Modern History Museum
• Purple Creative Studio
• Saint Catherine’s Hospice
• Skipton Building Society
• York College

South Yorkshire

• Help 4 Homeless Veterans
• Koncept Rail Solutions
• Linbrooke Services

West Yorkshire

• Accu Limited
• AmcoGiffen
• Atlas Green Limited
• Christeyns UK Limited
• The Pink Link
• Wainwrights

The following Yorkshire and the Humber businesses achieved Gold ERS this year:

Gold Award winners

• Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
• Bradford Bulls Rugby League Football Club
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Genesis Protection Services
• Humberside Police Headquarters
• The National Horseracing College
• Northern Lincolnshire & Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• One SC media Ltd
• Offploy CIC
• Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
• South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

The Engagement Team lead a Consultation session during the 2025 ERS ‘Expressions of Interest’ and ‘Open Application’ windows. During this time, the Employer Engagement Team hosted a series of online workshops to support organisations interested in progressing to the next level on ERS. The team conducted sessions with 100 forces-friendly employers, offering expert tips on how to achieve top honours, guiding them to next steps, and ensuring that applications are comprehensive, meeting the MOD’s requirements.

The Military/Business Expos and informational sessions continued their roll-out to additional cities including Hull, Bradford, Leeds, Grimsby and Wakefield. Over 200 businesses have come on board to engage with the military community and reinforce their commitment to creating policies and programmes that focus on employees in the forces who serve as reservists, CFAVs, are veterans or family members of those actively serving. The events have welcomed speakers from across the military and civic community, including HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Ed Anderson CBE, Colonel Peter Stitt, Commander North Region, Air Commodore Adam Samson, Rt Honourable Yvette Cooper, MP for Wakefield and Rothwell, Simon Lightwood MP and more. In the next financial year, we are looking forward to rolling out similar events starting in April at The Cutlers Hall, Sheffield.

‘Reservists enrich the workplace’ video debuted alongside our new ‘Life in the Reserves’ video. Reservists from Yorkshire and the Humber, along with Armed Forces leads from their civilian workplaces, shared what it means to have an employee who is a Reservist, skills that employee brings to the workplace and employers’ polices and practices that enable their employee to serve military duty while also being committed to their civilian job. The video is aimed at employers who would like to learn more about what it means to be ‘forces-friendly’ business and serves as a professional tool for Military/Business meetings and expos. Watch ‘Reservists Enhance the Workplace’ video.

Armed Forces Covenant signatories by year

ERS Silver and Gold winners in Yorkshire and the Humber by year

2024/25 Employer Engagement Highlight Video:

Partnerships and Outreach

RFCA YH aims to bridge the Armed Forces with the local community and seeks ways to connect with civic leaders and the wider public, as well as give back to local charities and organisations. Over the past year, we have enjoyed opportunities to help, support, assist, promote and lead.

RFCA YH supported the formation and August launch of Headquarters North. The new HQ is part of modernisation plans that the Army is implementing as a result of the recent Strategic Defence Review. Led by Colonel Peter Stitt, Headquarters North oversees Army operations, including Reserve units and Cadet Force in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and North West of England.

Charitable efforts supported by the RFCA YH include June’s The Yorkshire Big Curry Lunch at The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in York. The event raised funds for the Army Benevolent Fund – The Solders’ Charity which helps soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. The office staff also participate in a volunteer day, during which the team assist a local charity or organisation in the community. This year, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust led our effort at Askham Bog, where we removed invasive Himalayan Balsam to protect the area’s indigenous vegetation and species. Finally, we were pleased to once again donate nearly 100 kg of food and care products to York Food Bank for distribution throughout their five food bank centres across York. Donated items included a generous supply of childcare goods, toiletries and food.

RFCA YH has been featured in the media and press promoting our events and initiatives in regional outlets including York Press, The Yorkshire Post, Hull Live and our social media channels. These channels have seen a steady increase in reach, followers and views. We look forward to future features that will run in targeted publications, such as the Leeds and West Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce magazine.

We are members of regional Chambers of Commerce and community organisations that support businesses. The Engagement Team’s active participation in Yorkshire North and West Chamber of Commerce, The Yorkshire Society, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce and York Professionals, as well as serving members of the Institute of Directors, provides direct access to networks that endorse Defence connecting with industry. These partnerships are essential for forging meaningful relationships with reliable organisations that may be a current or future employers of men and women who serve or have served in the Armed Forces.

Building our membership

The RFCA members serve as ambassadors to our military, connecting the armed forces with businesses and communities in Yorkshire and the Humber. We continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that our engagement is active and that our membership is robust.

New Association members since April 2024

Councillors

• Cllr Tom Hinchcliffe, Leeds City Council
• Cllr Abigail White, Calderdale Council

Association members

• Ray Baird, Chief Executive of St Catherine’s Hospice
• Daniel Roche, Roche Civil Engineering Gold Awards Association representation for Yorkshire and the Humber
• Melanie Bancroft, Irwin Mitchell and Engagement Advisory Board member
• Donna Shaw, Morgan Sindall Property Services and Engagement Advisory Board member
• Commander David Noakes, Former Commanding Officer, HMS Ceres
• Luke Clifford-Roper-Smith, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer 1324 (Hawker Blackburn) Squadron

Membership numbers

Financial Report

Managing public funds effectively

Where our money comes from

The RFCA’s activities were funded by a mix of external funding and regionally generated income (RGI) with our overall income totalling £8.5M during the year, marginally lower than in FY 23/24 but with the caveat that the estates element of funding reflected a hybrid year due to the introduction of Future Defence Infrastructure Services contract in August 24.

External sources

Around £7.265M of external funding comes from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for employer support, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) for property and facilities management and single service sources for reserve and cadet administration.

Regionally Generated Income

Our RGI totalled £1.225M and was generated through business rates rebates and lettings revenue.  The income generated was slightly higher than the previous financial year 2023/24.

How we spent external funding

Headline projects that attracted funding during the year:

• Transforming the newly acquired Immingham Tri-Service Joint Cadet Centre
• Investing in a new Joint Cadet Centre at Skipton
• Provision of the Mona House enclave for the ACF in order to enable disposal of the old site
• Reactive and planned maintenance across the Reserve and Cadet sites keeping them open, safe and functional
• Provision of 9x new Mini Buses for the Army Cadet Force
• Fire safety improvements to Totley, Driffield and Strensall CTCs
• Minor Improvements to nine separate Army Reserve Centres

Expenditure:  £7.2M

• Estates Facilities Management:  £2.637M (Hard and Soft FM)
• Infrastructure:  £351K (minor new works/improvements)
• Capital Expenditure (Estates) :  £1,238,423
• Staffing Costs:  £2,239,691
• Defence Relationship Management Support:  £50,184
• Capital Expenditure (vehicles):  £192,009 (inc 9x new Mini Busses for the ACF, offset by disposal income)
• Transport & Movement:  £29,332
• Administration:  £83,115
• IT/Comms:  £40,949 (hardware & software)
• Professional Fees:  £11,400
• Grants:  £291,858 (ACF, RAFAC and Army Social media funding)
• Accommodation Stores/window cleaning service (Non HESTIA):  £35,267 xxxxx

How we spent RGI

RGI expenditure is approved by the RFCA’s Finance Advisory Board (FAB) in line with MOD priorities and local needs.  Over one million pounds was spent during the financial year, drawing on additional funds carried forward from 23/24 and the final end of year position was reduced by an Army injection £460K reimbursing RGI spend for various works orders.

Key notable expenditure on behalf of our region included:

• £50,000 ACF re-decoration programme
• £70,000 gutter clearance, repairs at various Army Reserve Centres (4), Cadet Training Centres (2), Joint Cadet Centres (3) and ACF Dets at Normanton and Fitzwilliam
• £43,000 refurbishment of messing facility in the Strensall CTC
• £400,000 internal refurbishment project in Carlton Bks
• £350,000 RGI injection to reactive maintenance
• Unit Grants:  £43,700
• Unit rebates:  £54,806
• Recruitment Support:  £24,800

In total £5M across all funding sources was spent on maintaining and improving the Y&H Volunteer Estate during the financial year 2024/25, a remarkable achievement at a time when there is much uncertainty within MOD finances, real time cost challenges in both material and supply. Below charts how regionally generated income was spent during 2024/25 (£1,071,306 before the Army inject).

VE £948,000 (88.49%) Grants £43,700 (4.08%) Recruitment Support £24,800 (2.31%), Unit Rebates AV Scheme £54,806 (5.12%)

VE:  Capital Works/refurbishments/enhancements:  £598,000 

VE:  DIO FDIS Inject Transfer:  £100,000

VE: Reactive Maintenance inject:  £250,000

Special Grants to units:  £43,700  (5%)

Recruitment support:  £24,800 (3%)

Unit AV Scheme rebates:  £54,806 (7%)

Caveat:  Expenditure data in the Chairman’s report is consistent with the audited accounts but with certain elements such depreciation of assets removed to better illustrate what was spent and where it was spent.

2024/25 Estates Highlight Reel:

Communications

In 2024/25, RFCA YH communications increased production efforts with the delivery of ‘Life in the Reserves’ and ‘Reservists Enrich the Workplace’ as well as in-house produced content to keep our social media channels populated with current news and events. Following the success of last year’s improved metrics from the previous year’s, the team continues our established campaigns including Cadet Stories and Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet Profiles, National Volunteers’ Week and Reserves Day, all which highlight the achievements and dedication of the Reserve Forces and Cadets in the region. This content has been shared across social media channels, resulting in desired engagement and interaction, with notable growth in followers and positive feedback. Additionally, RFCA YH has garnered press coverage in regional outlets including Yorkshire Post, York Press and Doncaster Free Press, showcasing the valuable work of Reservists, Cadets, CFAVs and Engagement Team and raising awareness of RFCA YH messaging. These communications efforts have not only helped to strengthen online presence but also ensured that the work of the Reserve Forces and Cadets continues to be recognised and celebrated across Yorkshire and the Humber.

We produced branded items such as a new mini-guide which is distributed to new members and at engagement events. The purpose of the guide is to inform new members about our organisation and policies and to also increase our visibility to the wider public. As our public-facing information is ever-changing, the mini-guide provides QR-coded signposting to different landing pages on our website where up-to-date information can be found. We have also updated our corporate umbrellas and ponchos with new logos, both items which receive plenty of attention at our public-facing events. In 2025/26, we will continue to post content that delivers RFCA general messaging and supported activities.

Communications will focus on ensuring that the website content remains engaging, up-to-date, and informative. While the number of users has decreased over the past year compared to the previous year, the RFCA YH website’s ability to retain users—also known as “stickiness”—has improved considerably. This suggests that the existing content is compelling and valuable to visitors. Moving forward, the Communications team will explore strategies to increase website traffic while continuing to create dynamic and relevant content.

Platform performance at a glance – metrics across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube (2024-2025 vs 2023-2024) and media coverage. Fans and followers indicate subscribers to our channels, Video views includes activity across all five platforms.

2024/25 Communications Highlight Reel: